The comprehensive quantitative analysis of the flavonoid chemistry of Artemisia vulgaris L., a plant used as an emmenagogue in traditional medicine, is presented in conjunction with an evaluation of its estrogenic activity. Twenty known flavonoids were isolated and identified as tricine, jaceosidine, eupafolin, chrysoeriol, diosmetin, homoeriodictyol, isorhamnetin, apigenin, eriodictyol, luteolin, luteolin 7-glucoside, kaempferol 3-glucoside, kaempferol 7-glucoside, kaempferol 3-rhamnoside, kaempferol 3-rutinoside, quercetin 3-glucoside, quercetin 3-galactoside, quercetrin, rutin, and vitexin. The most abundant compounds were eriodictyol and luteolin. The estrogenic activity of all flavonoids was assayed by employing a reconstituted estrogen transcription unit in Saccharomyces cerevisiae transformed with both a human estrogen receptor expression plasmid and a reporter plasmid. Two flavonoids, eriodictyol and apigenin, were able to induce the transcription of the reporter gene in transgenic yeast. The transcriptional activity increased proportionally with increased amounts of purified eriodictyol or apigenin added to the yeast cells. Keywords: Artemisia vulgaris; estrogenic activity; estrogen transcriptional system in yeast; flavonoids; apigenin; eriodictyol; luteolin
For producing a high added-value natural seasoning ingredient, a yeast extract (Yx) was supplemented with a rice protein residue fermented with Bacillus licheniformis (Rfl) or with Bacillus subtilis (Rfs). A rice protein residue was obtained after enzymatic hydrolysis of rice protein which was used for preparing a yeast culture medium. Overall acceptabilities of the supplemented yeast extracts (YxRfl or YxRfs) were higher compared to pure yeast extract. Savory taste like umami was found to increase noticeably by adding a fermented rice protein residue to yeast extract, which was confirmed in taste sensor analysis and in sensory test. Beyond the presence of savory tasting amino acids such as Glu and Asp in a fermented rice protein residue, it is assumed that other soluble peptide fractions remained play an important role in enhancing taste of the supplemented yeast extracts. Thus, the yeast extract added with a fermented rice protein residue could be applied to manufacture a natural seasoning ingredient.
생강은 다양한 생리활성이 보고되고 있으나 자극적인 향미로 인하여 건강식품 소재로의 사용에는 제약을 받아왔다. 본 연구에서는 낙농제품 및 김치 유래 유산균으로 발효생강을 제조하고 요쿠르트에 첨가하여 관능적 특성에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 건 생강의 첨가는 플레인 요쿠르트의 맛과 전체적 선호도를 저하시켰으며, GSt, GLa, GLm(발효 생강)의 첨가도 저하시키는 경향을 나타낸 반면에 GLp 첨가구는 저하되지 않았다. 또한 모든 발효생강은 제조공정 중 생강의 특징적 향기성분이 감소하여 이들을 첨가한 요쿠루트의 향미에는 유의적인 영향을 주지 않았으므로 GLp 첨가는 건생강을 대신한 건강식품 소재로서 사용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다. 한편 생강의 생리활성 성분의 하나인 6-gingerol은 모든 발효생강에서는 발효 전에 비하여 감소하고 6-shogaol은 증가하였으나, GLp 발효생강에서는 6-shogaol 이 거의 검출되지 않은 점이 특이하였다. Applying ginger to processed foods to improve health is limited due to its pungent odor. In this study, fermented gingers were prepared using lactic acid bacteria from dairy products or kimchi and their chemical and sensory properties were examined. Adding dried ginger or fermented gingers (GSt, GLa, GLm) to plain yogurt made them less tasty and lowered the overall acceptability of yogurt except GLp. For all fermented gingers including GLp, the characteristic flavors of the ginger decreased by fermentation so adding fermented ginger into yogurt did not affect its flavor significantly. Thus GLp would be expected to be a food ingredient instead of dried ginger without lowering organoleptic qualities. The content of 6-gingerol, a bioactive component in ginger, decreased in all fermented gingers. However, 6-shogaol, which increased in GSt, GLa, and GLm, was not detected in GLp.
Laver, a red algae belonging to the genus Porphyra, is one of the most widely consumed edible seaweeds. The most popular commercial dried laver species, P. tenera and P. haitanensis, were collected from Korea and China, respectively, and evaluated for proximate composition, amino acids, minerals, trace heavy metals, and color. The moisture and ash contents of P. tenera and P. haitanensis ranged from 3.66~6.74% and 8.78~9.07%, respectively; crude lipid and protein contents were 1.96~2.25% and 32.16~36.88%, respectively. Dried lavers were found to be a good source of amino acids, such as asparagine, isoleucine, leucine, and taurine, and γ-aminobutyric acid. K, Ca, Mg, Na, P, I, Fe, and Se minerals were selected for analysis. A clear regional variation existed in the amino acid, mineral, and trace metal contents of lavers. Regular consumption of lavers may have heath benefits because they are relatively low in fat and high in protein, and contain functional amino acids and minerals.
Garlic that has been reacted with fermented soybean hypocotyl, termed Bio-Garlic, contains 6 times more allithiamine than garlic alone, and it was prepared as a complex food ingredient. To examine the effects of Bio-Garlic on obesity and hyperlipidemia, rats were fed a high-fat diet for 8 weeks. Bio-Garlic arrested increases in body weight without affecting feed intake in the rats. The Bio-Garlic also lowered serum levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides, while increased serum HDL-cholesterol levels. The atherogenic index of the Bio-Garlic treated group decreased, suggesting that Bio-Garlic has the potential to be marketed as a functional health food ingredient with beneficial effects on the circulatory system.
Curcuma, which is well known for its characteristic flavor, was fermented with lactic acid bacteria from kimchi, and the taste and biological activities were examined in order to investigate its use as a health food ingredient. Although the general composition of the fermented curcuma was similar regardless of lactic acid bacteria used for fermentation, the overall acceptability of the curcuma fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum (CLp) was better than that of the other samples. Taste sensing tests showed that the higher overall acceptability of CLp stemmed from an increase in umami and sourness and a decrease in astringency with CLp. There were no statistical differences in curcumin content, DPPH radical scavenging activities, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities among the curcuma samples; however, CLpe, an extract of CLp, revealed dose dependent inhibition on the production of PG-E2 from RAW cells. Consequently, CLpe may be suitable for use in processed foods in order to provide health benefits without lowering their sensory qualities.
Abstract This study evaluated the microbial safety of reduced‐sodium napa cabbage kimchi products by comparing with conventional kimchi samples. Five commercial kimchi samples were collected from different manufacturers in Korea. Total aerobic plate counts and coliforms counts between regular and reduced‐sodium kimchi were not significantly ( p > 0.05) different and major foodborne pathogens, including Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp. , Listeria monocytogenes , Staphylococcus aureus , and Yersinia enterocolitica were not detected in any sample. Bacillus cereus contamination among all kimchi samples was less than the regulation level (3.0 log CFU/g). However, high levels of coliforms were observed in both types of samples. To investigate microbial hazards of kimchi processing, we analyzed specific kimchi production processes and found five control points which can reduce coliform levels in kimchi samples. The results of this study could be helpful for the kimchi industry to produce safe reduced‐sodium kimchi products.
Abstract Effects of the reaction temperature, reaction time, mole ratio of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) to sorbitol, and mole ratio of fatty acid sodium soaps (FASS) to sorbitol on yields of sorbitol fatty acid polyester (SFPE) were examined with a response surface methodology. The optimum reaction conditions selected with response surface analysis were as follows: reaction temperature, 144°C; reaction time, 6.65 h; mole ratio of FAME to sorbitol, 10.7∶1; and mole ratio of FASS to sorbitol, 0.77∶1. Under these reaction conditions, the experimental yield of sorbitol fatty acid polyester (mean value: 92% range: 89–94%) obtained from seven replications was close to the predicted value (94%) calculated from the polynomial response surface model equation. The response surface methodology approach used in this study was able to predict the reaction conditions necessary for a high yield of sorbitol fatty acid polyester.